cormacmacmahon1980
Puffin on the Saltee Island © Cormac Mac Mahon
Puffins are any of three species of small alcids in the bird genus Fratercula. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil.
The Saltee Islands are a pair of small islands lying 5 kilometres off the southern coast of County Wexford in Ireland. The two islands are Great Saltee and Little Saltee. They have been largely unoccupied since the early 20th century and have been privately owned by the Neale family since 1943.
By any standards the Saltee Islands are remarkable, notwithstanding the fact that there are over 220 species of birds recorded. There are three main groups of birds on these islands:
- Breeding sea birds
- Resident land birds
- Migrant birds
A vast amount of knowledge of the breeding birds has been gathered over the years by visiting Ornithologists. The late Prince Michael and the Neale family have always respected this bird sanctuary and treated visiting Ornithologists and bird watchers alike with hospitality. Most day trippers and birds watchers enjoy viewing the Gannets, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants etc
Puffin on the Saltee Island © Cormac Mac Mahon
Puffins are any of three species of small alcids in the bird genus Fratercula. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil.
The Saltee Islands are a pair of small islands lying 5 kilometres off the southern coast of County Wexford in Ireland. The two islands are Great Saltee and Little Saltee. They have been largely unoccupied since the early 20th century and have been privately owned by the Neale family since 1943.
By any standards the Saltee Islands are remarkable, notwithstanding the fact that there are over 220 species of birds recorded. There are three main groups of birds on these islands:
- Breeding sea birds
- Resident land birds
- Migrant birds
A vast amount of knowledge of the breeding birds has been gathered over the years by visiting Ornithologists. The late Prince Michael and the Neale family have always respected this bird sanctuary and treated visiting Ornithologists and bird watchers alike with hospitality. Most day trippers and birds watchers enjoy viewing the Gannets, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants etc